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Yaya Toure Says Nemanja Matic Was His Toughest Opponent

Yaya Toure Says Nemanja Matic Was His Toughest Opponent

The former Manchester City midfielder is one of the best of his generation and claimed he always found it tricky against the Serbian.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Yaya Toure has spent a career playing with and against some of the best players of the generation and the former Manchester City star claims Nemanja Matic was his toughest opponent.

With both City and Barcelona the Ivorian midfielder won a lot of trophies and became one of the best midfielders in the world.

The 36-year-old played in a whole host of big games against the best around and surprisingly named Manchester United midfielder Matic as the toughest he faced, "Nemanja Matic was complicated. He's not quick but he's so strong, clever," Toure told the Times.

"All the rest of the opponents, because I always looked at them carefully before games, I get their weakness."

The news might come as a surprise to United fans who haven't really seen the best of the Serbian midfielder, certainly not for some time.

He moved from Chelsea, where he'd become a formidable midfielder, to Old Trafford in July 2017, annoying Blues boss Antonio Conte.

Whilst he started life under Jose Mourinho well his form soon tailed off and he hasn't been able to gain it back under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Despite the Red Devils' lack of quality and numbers in midfield he has played just 160 minutes in the Premier League this season, and hasn't appeared in the league since the defeat to West Ham in September.

Matic started in the defeat to West Ham and has only played in the Europa League draw with Alkmaar since. Image: PA Images
Matic started in the defeat to West Ham and has only played in the Europa League draw with Alkmaar since. Image: PA Images

The former Benfica player was linked with a move away from Old Trafford in the summer, with Inter and AC Milan reportedly interested, but the manager didn't want to sell him, after failing to sign another midfielder.

It's expected that with his lack of game time Matic will be allowed to leave the club in January, with Italy still his likely destination.

Toure left City at the end of last season. Image: PA Images
Toure left City at the end of last season. Image: PA Images

Thirty six-year-old Toure left the Premier League at the end of last season and joined China League One side Qingdao Huanghai until the end of the season.

Despite three league titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups Toure revealed he had one regret at City saying, "I didn't do enough. I missed winning the Champions League with City. There's a lot of pressure. The Champions League is all the great teams, they are clever, they have this sharpness."

Considering he won the competition with Barcelona it proves the elite mentality that made Toure one of the best in the world.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Manchester City, nemanja matic, Football News, Chelsea, Manchester United, Premier League, England, Yaya Toure, Chinese Super League

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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@Sidler28